Pocket retainer



.1 R. H. BROWN. 2,619,

POCKET RETAINER Filed Jan. 26, 1951 I 2 SI-lEETS --Sl-iEET 1 Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a pocket retainer and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which when in applied position within a, pocket of an article of wearing apparel, provides an effective medium to maintain the pocket in a flattened condition.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an article of the character stated which includes a substantially U-shaped body for insertion into a pocket with the side arms of the body disposed toward the entrance opening of the pocket and wherein clips are carried by the outer or free extremities of said side arms for frictional engagement with the outer fabric wall of the pocket.

Furthermore it is an object of the invention to provide an article of the character stated which may be readily adjusted to compensate for varying pocket depths.

The invention consists in details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved pocketretainer whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a, fragmentary view in elevation illustrating in applied position a pocket retainer constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the retainer unapplied;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating a modified form of the invention;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view illustrating in applied position a retainer constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention and in applied position;

Figure 6 is a front elevational view unapplied V of the retainer as comprised in Figure 5, a portion being in section;

Figure 7. is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the'line 8-8 of Figure '6; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating a still further modification of the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention as illus- 2 pocket of a body garment and into which is in-' serted through the open top thereof a retainer device D.

The retainer device D is substantially U- shaped in elevation and includes an intermediate or base arm I, the extremities of which are continued by the elongated side arms 2 disposed in the same general direction and normally in a slight divergence in a direction away from the intermediate or base arm I.

The intermediate or base arm I of the device D is of a length closely approaching the width of the pocket P at the bottom thereof and is so formed lengthwise to closely conform to the bottom of the pocket P.

Each of the side arms 2 of the device D is of a length approximately the depth of the pocket P. The outer or free extremity of each of the side arms 2 carries an outwardly disposed finger or clip 3 terminating in a, spherical head 4. This clip or finger 3 engages over the outer or free marginal portion of the outer fabric wall 5 of the pocket P in a manner to effectively clamp or hold the device D in applied position within the pocket P.

Each of the clips or fingers 3 has one extremity rigid with the outer closed end of a sleeve 6 which has tight sliding engagement over the outer or free end portion of a side arm 2 of the device D. This sleeve 6 of a material length and rigid with an intermediate portion thereof is an end portion of an external spring arm L This arm I is of a length to extend a pronounced distance beyond the inner or open end of the sleeve 6 and terminates in an inwardly directed claw 8. The inherent resiliency of the arm 1 causes the claw 8 to have tight frictional engagement with the side arm 2 upon which the sleeve 6 is applied and at a point inwardly of the applied sleeve 5. By this means the sleeve 6 is effectively held in selected adjusted position upon the side arm 2 as may be required by the depth of the pocket into which the device D is to be placed.

In positioning the device D in the pocket P the side arms 2 are retracted one toward the other to facilitate insertion, thus placing said arms 2 under tension. The retracted arms 2 result in said arms exerting outward pressure against the sides of the pocket P and thus maintaining flattened the outer fabric wall 5'of the pocket and substantially eliminating the possibility of articles within the pocket P from falling or dropping out, especially when the wearer stoops or bends over.

The side arms 2 in the outer end portions thereof are provided with the inwardly offset portions 9 to provide seats for an endless contractible band I!) of elastic or the like. This band It, however, is of a tension less than that of the retracted arms 2 so that the band iii ofiers no hindrance to the outward tension desired when the device D is in applied position Within the pocket P.

The band IE! is so positioned on the device D as to be across the open end of the pocket P to provide a barrier to further prevent articles from being accidently displaced.

By having the clips or fingers 3 carried by the sleeves 6, as the side arms 2 move outwardly, the frictional engagement of the sleeves and the coacting fingers will tend to turn the sleeves on the supporting ends of the arms and increase the holding grip of the clasps by the resultant binding action.

It is also to be noted that the clips or fingers 3 are positioned at the same side of the device D or to the same side of the common plane of the arms 2. The clips or fingers 3 can be. further identified as being arranged at the outer or front side of the device.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated inFigure 4, of the drawings, the general construction of the device is substantially the same as the first embodiment of the invention except that the clips or fingers Ii are rigid with the outer end portions of the side arms. l2 and also disposed at the outer side of the device A.

In a great many types and styles or" dress shirts now on the market, the. breast pocket B shown in Figure 5, has its upper side portions inwardly oiTset, as at Hi, and the embodiments of the invention as comprised in Figures 5 to 9 are particularly intended for use with such type or style of' pockets.

As comprised in Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, the retainer embodies the elongated side arms l5 each of which is of a length approximately equal to the depth of the pocket 13. Each of these arms 15 at a required distance inwardly of its outer end is inwardly oiiset, as at l 5, to compensate for the adjacent offset portion of the pocket B when the retainer is applied.

The portion a of each arm. l5 outwardly of the offset is is telescopically received within a sleeve ii. The outer extremity of the sleeve i? carries a reverted resilient finger or clip l8 to engage over the upper or free marginal portion of the outer fabric wall [9 of the pocket B.

The inner extremity of each of the, sleeves I! has rigidly connected therewith an extremity of a resilient arm 28 which is of ,a length to extend into-overlapping, substantially parallel relation with the adjacent arm 5 for a material distance inwardly of the ofiset is of the arm IS. The inner or free end portion of the arm 23 is continued by a short arm. 25 substantially at right angles to the arm 20 and disposed toward the arm iii; The extremity of the short arm 2| is provided with a hook 22 which is directed away from the adjacent arm i5 and which has holding or looking engagement with a loop like hasp 23 extending laterally from a thimble E i-snugly but slidably engaged on the arm 15.

In placing in the pocket B, the retainer as comprised in Figures 5 to 8 of the drawings, the side arms i5 are sprung in one toward the other to facilitate such insertion andto place the arms t5 under required tension. To compensate for pockets B of varying depths within certain limiwise of the portions a of the arms I5.,

The arms 2t also provide effective retaining means for a rubber band 25 to be disposed within the outer or open end portion of the pocket B.

In the embodiment of the invention comprised in Figure 9 of the drawings, the outer portion In of the side arm 25 is inwardly offset, as at 21, to compensate for an inner offset outer corner portion of a pocket. The arm 2'6 inwardly of but in close proximity to the offset 2?, is inwardly pinched to provide an outwardly open semi-loop 28 with which a rubber band may be readily engaged and maintained in desired position.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a pocket retainer constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

1. An article of the clas described comprising a substantially U-shaped body designed to enter a pocket with the free ends of the side arms (11-.- rected toward the entrance opening of the pocket, said arms being under tension when the device is within the pocket to exert pressure across the width thereof to maintain the outer wall of the pocket flattened, clip members carried by the outer extremities of the side arms for engaging over the free marginal portion of the outer wall of the pocket to hold the body within the pocket, sleeves slidably mounted on the outer extremities of the side arms and having the clips carried thereby, and means for holding the sleeves in selected adjusted positions on the side arms.

2. An article of the class described comprising a substantially U-shaped body designed to enter a pocket with the free ends of the side arms directed toward the entrance opening of the pocket, said arms being under tension when the device is within the pocket to exert pressure across the width thereof to maintain the outer wall of the pocket flattened, clip members carried by the outer extremities of the side arms for engaging over the free marginal portion of the outer wall of the pocket to hold the body within the pocket, sleeves slidably mounted on the outer extremities of the side arms and having the clips carried thereby, and means carried by the sleeve and engaging the side arms for holding the sleeves in selected adjustment along the side arms.

3. An article of the class described comprising a substantially U-shaped body designed to enter a pocket with the free ends of the side arms directed toward the entrance opening of the pocket, said arms being under tension when the device is within the pocket to exertpressure across the width thereof to maintain the outer wall of the pocket flattened, clip members carried by the outer extremities of the side arms for engaging over the-free marginal portion of the outer wall of the pocket to hold the body within the pocket, sleeves slidably mounted on the outer extremities of the side arms and having the clips carried thereby, and spring arms carried by the sleeves and having contact with the side arms for holdmg the sleeves in selected adjusted positions along the side arms.

4. An article of the class described comprising a substantially U-shaped body designed to enter a pocket with the free ends of v the side arms directed toward. the entrance opening of the pocket, said arms being under tension when the device is within the pocket to exert pressure across the width thereof, to maintain the outer wall of the pocket flattened, means; carriedby the outer extremities of the side arms for engaging the free marginal portion of the outer wall of the pocket to hold the body within the pocket, the outer end portions of the arms being inwardly offset, said means comprising sleeves slidably mounted on the side arms outwardly of the offsets, and means carried by the sleeves and operatively engaging the side arms inwardly of the offsets for holding the sleeves in selected adjusted positions along the portions of the side arm outwardly of the ofisets.

5. An article of the class described comprising a. substantially U-shaped body designed to enter a pocket with the free ends of the side arms directed toward the entrance opening of the pocket, said arm being under tension when the device is within the pocket to exert pressure across the width thereof to maintain the outer wall of the pocket flattened, means carried by the outer extremities of the side arms for engaging the free marginal portion of the outer wall of the pocket to hold the body within the pocket, the outer end portions of the arms being inwardly ofiset, said means comprising sleeves slidably mounted on the side arms outwardly of the offsets, inwardly directed arms carried by the sleeves, and means for releasably attaching the arms of the sleeves to the side arms inwardly of the offsets for holding the sleeves in selected adjustment along the side arms.

6. An article of the class described comprising a substantially U-shaped body designed to enter a pocket with the free ends of the side arms directed toward the entrance opening of the pocket, said arm being under tension when the device is within the pocket to exert pressure across the width thereof to maintain the outer wall of the pocket flattened, means carried by the outer extremities of the side arms for engaging the free marginal portion of the outer REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:-

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 313,762 Pattee Mar. 10, 1885 607,766 Riley July 19, 1898 736,531 Matson Aug. 18, 1903 744,799 Rogers Nov. 24, 1903 1,104,984 Gleckler July 28, 1914 

